Memorandum: that William WHITE of Fordington within the peculiar jurisdiction of Sarum, being sick of body and perfect of remembrance did declare his last Will and Testament nuncupative the thirtieth day of March Anno Domini 1595 as followeth

First: he did commend his soul into the hands of Almighty God who had made him and all the world. And his body he bequested unto the earth from whence it came and to be buryed in Christian Burial

Item: He gave unto the poor people of Fordington, ij^s (2 shillings)

Item: He gave unto Alice BONGER his servant one Chilver Sheep called a theave younge with Thomas BISHOP.

The Residue: of his goods movable and unmovable he gave and bequeathed unto George his son and Eme [Emme] his daughter to be divided equally between them.

Item: In the presence of these witnesses John WHITE his brother, Alice BONGER his servant, Thomasine SEAGER the wife of Robert SEAGER, Thomasine WHITE and others.

Probate:- 1st day November 1595 (rest in Latin refers to Willian's children George & Ema WHITE)

THE ACCOMPT: of John WHITE the natural and lawful brother and administrator of the goods chattels and debts of William WHITE late whilst he lived of the parish of Fordington in the county of Dorset deceased during the minority of George WHITE and Eme WHITE the natural and lawful children of the deceased made and exhibited to the Wor^ll Mr. William WILKINSON Doctor of Law official for Dean of Sarum the tenth day of Janue [January?] Anno Domini 1596 [1595/6] the thirty eighth year of the reign of Elizabeth [Note:- Which ran from 17 Nov 1595- to 16 Nov 1596]

First the said John WHITE administrator and accomptant doth charge him self with all and singular the goods chattels and debts of the said deceased according to an Inventory there made and exhibited into the Register of the said Dean of Sarum [damaged]

Whereof the said accomptant craveth to be allowed for charges and payments made by him in this administration necessarily expended and made as follows Viz:

INVENTORY: Laid forth for all charges about his funeral at which there was made a sermon xx^s---20s

Item: for the care tutorship and guardianship of the said George WHITE and Eme WHITE during their minority and the administration of the goods of the said deceased, the bond thereupon, the seal operators fee and for writing the Wills xvj^sij^d----16 shillings 2 pence

Item: for charges for my self and his horse in coming to Sarum to obtain the care and tutorship ---10 shillings

Sum Total = xlvj^sij^d 46 shillings and 2 pence

MORE: this accomptant prays to be allowed certain legacies by him paid and bequeathed in the last Will's administration of the said deceased as followeth:

Impremis paid a legacy to the poor people of Fordington ij^s -----2 shillings

Item: paid unto Alice BONGER his servant a sheep called a theud? price? vijs -----7 shillings

Sum Total = ix^s----- 9 shillings

ALSO:

This accomptant desireth allowance for certain desperate debts wherewith he standeth charged in the inheritance above mentioned which cannot recount for the debtors are very poor vij s -----7 shillings

Impremis: for the debt of Thomas GARDNOR of Wyke Regis viij^s -----8 shillings

Item:for the debt of Roger MABER of Dorchester xiiij^s -----14 shillings

Item:for the debt of Jone EDWARDS of Dorchester xviij^s viij^d-----18 shillings 8 pence

Sum Debtors = xl^s viij^d ----- 40 shillings 8 pence

MOREOVER:

This accomptant doth grant to be allowed for the charges about the passing of this accompt viz:

Impremis: for proving, framing, casting, and examining of this accompt vj^sviij^d -----6 shillings 8 pence

Item: for the Clerk for the writing of this accompt iij^s iiij^d -----3 shillings 4 pence

Item: for the endorsement of this accompt x^s -----10 shillings

Item: for the ??????????????? xj^s -----11 shillings

Item: for an Act iiijd-----4 pence

Item: for his travel in passing this accompt x^s -----10 shillings

Sum Total = xlj^s 4^d ----- 41 shillings 4 pence

ALSO: the said accomptant craveth to be allowed for certain debts of the said William WHITE deceased which he hath paid and satisfied unto the creditors of the said deceased since his death as followeth viz:

Impremis: paid John LACYE of Pulham xix^s iiij^d ----- 19s. 4d

Item: paid to John WHITE the Younger of Fordington, vj^li viij^s -----£6. 8s.

Item: paid to William PUCKETT xlviij^s viij^d -----48s. 8d.

Sum Debtors = ix^li xvj^s ----- £9. 16s

Sum Total = xvi^li xiij^s ij d ----- £16. 13s. 2d [£16. 10s 6d?]

[Section all in Latin? referring to his children George and Eme WHITE ending with Sum remaining £40 18s 2d]

Impremis: ij [2] Keyne [Cows] j [1] Calf priced ----- iiij^li iij^s viij^d [£4. 3s. 8d]
Item: j [1] Horse -----xxvij^s [27s.]
Item: xj [11] couples of ewes & lambs -----iiij^liviij^s [£4.8s]
Item: xxv [25] of other sheep ----- viij^lixv^s [£8. 15s.]
Item: j [1] pig -----vj^s viij^d [6s.8d]
Item: of Malt xiiij li xiiij^s [£14 14s]
Item: ij [2] cupboards ----- xxxij^s 8d. [32s 8d]
Item: j [1] bedstead -----x^s [10s]
Item: j [1] bead, ij [2] bolsters, & ij [2] pillows -----ij ^li vj ^s viiij^th [£2. 6s. 8d]
Item: ij [2] coverleads & ij [2] pair of blankets ---ij^li [£2]
Item: j [1] womans gown, j [1] petticoat, j [1] blanket, ij [2] hats & j [1] apron -----iiii^li v^s [£4. 5s]
Item: iij [3] cloaks -----ij ^li j^s iiij^d [£2. 1s. 4]
Item: doublet, hoses etc -----xiij^s iiij^d [13s. 4d]
Item: ij [2] brass pots, iij [3] kettles, & ij [2] posnetts -----ij^li [£2]
Item: vj [6] platters, v [5] pottengers, j [1] silver & ij [2] salts -----xij^s [12s]
Item: iij [3] candlesticks -----iiij^s [4s]
Item: j [1] wimbshett? v^s [5s.]
Item: j [1] yoting vat with its timber vessels -----j^li iiij^s [£1.4s]
Item: j [1] bedstead iiij^s coffers & j [1] cornpike -----ix^s [9s.]
Item: j [1] brondize [possibly a brazier] with its irons ----- ij^s[2s.]
Item: In wood ----- xiij^s iiij^d [13s.4d]
Item: In money ---- xxxviij s [38s]
Item: in futcher? oats & peas -----xiij^s [13s.]

Sum lv^li vij^s viiij^d £55. 7s 8d

Impremis: Thomas GARDNOR of Wyke Regis ----- viij^s [8s.]

Item: Roy WANE of Dorchester ----xiiij^s [14s.]

Item: John EDWARDS of Dorchester ----- xviij^s. viij^d [18s. 8d]

Item: Robert BUNE of Fordington, -----iij^s [3s.]

Sum xliij^s viij^d [43s. 8d]

Sum lvij^li xj^s iiij^d [£57 11s 4d?]

Impremis: unto John LACYE of Pulham xix^s iiij^d ----- 19 shillings 4 pence

Item: unto John WHITE the Younger of Fordington, vj^li viij^s -----£6. 8s.

Item: unto William PUCKETT ij^liiij^s viij^d -----£1. 2s. 8d.

Sum ix^li viij^s viijd ----- £9. 8s. 8d

[The first part of the LA is written in Latin and difficult to translate but states in effect:-]

Know all men by these presents that John WHITE of Fordington in the County of Dorset Yeoman and Richard WILLS of the same and from the same County husbandman are firmly bound unto the venerable Dr Bridges -------dated 1st day of November 1595

The condition of the within written obligation is such that if the within bound John WHITE the natural and lawful brother of William WHITE late of the parish of Fordington, in the county of Dorset deceased during the minority of George WHITE and Eme WHITE the natural and lawful children of the said William WHITE deceased do well and truly administer the goods chattels and debts of the said deceased that as far as his said goods chattels and debts will hereunto extend and the law shall charge him. Also: do exhibit or cause to be exhibited a true and perfect Inventory of all his said goods chattels and debts.

Moreover: upon his proper costs and charges do well and virtuously educate and bring up or cause to be educated and brought up the said George WHITE and Eme WHITE in funding, giving and providing for them and both of them good decent necessary and convenient food and lodgings and apparel until they shall be of lawful age or married. And Also: do well and truly satisfy content pay or cause to be satisfied and paid unto the said George WHITE and Eme WHITE all such parts and portions of the said goods chattels and debts of their father the said Mr. William WHITE deceased as are due and given unto them in and by the last Will and testament nuncupative of the said deceased according to the tenor effect and true intent of the said Will with not any fraud deceit or frustrate in delays. Likewise upon his like proper costs and charges do always and do at all times hereafter from time to time defend and save harmless the within named Dr. Bridges Dean of Sarum and all other his officers and ministers in that behalf for granting to him the said John WHITE the trusts of George WHITE and Eme WHITE during their minority, and for all other causes ensuing by reason hereof. Last he do come render yield go be & exhibit up in writing to the Dean of Sarum or his official for the time being a true and perfect accompt of and upon his said administration & tutorship on this side the feast of St John Baptist next ensuing the date within written or otherwise when he shall be thereunto lawfully called and required that then this present obligation to be void & had for naught or else to stand & abide in his full power & virtue

Genealogical Notes:- Link to his place in the WHITE Family of Fordington

(1). William WHITE (d.1595) Husbandman of Fordington died on 21st March 1594/5 (according to the inventory of his goods exhibited into the Register of the Dean of Sarum and transcribed above). He would have been buried at St Georges Church in Fordington, within a few days of his death. He was the son of Robert WHITE (d.1576) Husbandman of Fordington, and brother to John WHITE who is granted administration of his estate and guarianship of his two children. One of the witnesses to the nuncupative Will was Thomasine WHITE the who was the 6th and last child of John WHITE Senior the brother of Robert White (d.1576). Follow link provided for more information about the family.

(2). Most Parish Registers have not survived for this period but we know Eme the daughter of William WHITE was baptised at St George 's church in Fordington, on 24th September 1587 so she was 8 years old when her father died. His son George was probably born a few years prior to that.